American Hands in Action Photograph Album:

A Guide

The Works Progress Administration, later known as the Works Project Administration, was established as a federal agency by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. It was established as a relief measure during the Great Depression to provide employment to people of both sexes and all races at a variety of skill levels. The album documents the WPA exhibition, "Americans Hands in Action," held at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, April 25 to May 14, 1939.

The Works Progress Administration, later known as the Works Project Administration, was established as a federal agency by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. It was established as a relief measure during the Great Depression to provide employment to people of both sexes and all races at a variety of skill levels.

Photographs, newspaper clippings, printed materials. The album documents the WPA exhibition, "Americans Hands in Action," held at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, April 25 to May 14, 1939. The exhibition featured non-construction activities of the WPA. Displays included textiles, weaving and spinning, basketry, clothing production, doll making, children's arts and activities, cooking, printing, library services, braille, historic records survey, archaeology, and paleontology. Among the 44 photographs are images of puppet theater and an African-American children's band performances. A school visitation schedule, attendance figures, and newpaper reports are also found in the album. Even the decorative album itself is a WPA work product.

Access

Open for research.

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Although in excellent condition, this album is fragile. Please handle with care. Some photographs have come loose from their album pages and have been placed in a separate folder within the box housing the album.